Tree pruner



Feb. 8, 1938. L. s. STRIPLING 2,107,401

TREE PRUNER Filed Dec. 1, 1936 Anya/500 Patented Feb. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TREE PRUNER Luke S. Stripling, Amarillo, Tex.

' Application December 1, 1936, Serial No. 113,683

3 Claims.

This invention relates to pruning devices and has special reference to a tree pruner.

One important object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction of tree pruner which may be adjusted 5 to different lengths. Y

A second important object of the invention is to provide a novel clamping means in such a pruner whereby the implement may be held at any length to which it is adjusted.

A third important object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of clamps and braces for such a pruner wherein the clamps act as struts for the brace rods or wires.

A fourth important object of the invention is to provide novel cutting jaws for such a pruner.

A fifth important object of the invention is to provide novel actuating means for such a pruner.

A sixth important object of the invention is to provide novel means for adjusting the actuating means to correspond with the length to which the pruner is adjusted.

A seventh important object of the invention is to provide novel means for drawing a twig or branch of a tree into the jaws and there holding it during the cutting operation.

With the above and other objects in view as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawing like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Fig. 1a, is an elevation of the upper part of the implement.

Fig. 1b is an elevation forming a continuation of Fig. la and showing the lower part of the implement.

Fig. 2a is a view of the parts shown in Fig. 1a but at right angles thereto.

Fig. 2b is a View of the parts shown in Fig. 1b but at right angles thereto.

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation from the left side of Fig. 2b and showing a certain pawl and ratchet device used herein. a

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the line 44 of Fig. 1a.

Fig. 5 is a view showing a portion of the jaw actuating means removed from the remainder of the device.

Fig. 6 is a detail broken section on the line 66 of Fig. 1a.

In the presentdrawing illustrating the device it is to be understood that the proportions are not a feature of the invention and that these proportions and the forms of various parts may be changed to suit constructural requirements. For instance the supporting tubes may be made much longer in proportion to their diameters, the jaws may be made smaller or larger in proportion to the other parts and may be of any form found by experience to be desirable. Thus the drawing is to be understood as merely typical of the invention. 7

As here shown there is provided a jaw fork ill of tubular form and having a slot at its upper end to'provide a pair of form arms ll. Through the upper ends of the arms II passes a pivot bolt l2 whereon is pivoted the jaw members indicated in general at A. Each of these jaw members includes an upper portion I3 preferably having a serrated inner and cutting edge I4. Extending across each other from the lower ends of the portions l3 are handle members l5, these members being pivotally mounted at their intersection on the bolt l2. Extending down from the crossportions I5 are tail portions l6 each provided with a series of openings I! for purposes presently to be explained. Preferably the portions l3, which may beitermed the blades, are made from shear steel while the portions l5 and I6, which may be termed the jaw or cutter handles, are made from less expensive material. The blades are fixedly attached to the handles by any suitable means, such as welding or the like, as is commonly done in the manufacture of tools of the scissors type. If preferred each entire jaw may be made of high carbon steel with the parts 13 alone tempered for cutting.

Through a selected hole I! of each jaw passes a pivot bolt is and each bolt also passes through a suitable bolt hole in a toggle arm [9 and, the arms, 19 have their inner ends connected within the member In by pivot bolt 20. It is here to be noted that wherever desired the bolts used herein may have thumb nuts or may be provided with lock-washers, cotters or the like to prevent accidental loosening or loss. It is not, however, deemed necessary to show or refer further to such parts as their use for the desired purposes is well known to all those skilled in the art. Below the section In is an intermediate tubular section 2i which is connected to the lower end of the member ill by a coupling 22 of the usual pipe threaded type. Between the proximal ends of the members ID and 2| is held a guide washer 23 which fits within the coupling 22 and is pressed at its periphery by said members In and M so that the end parts of the tube 26 extend clamp straps 28 the jaw handles are urged apart and by properly positioning the bolts I8'the extent of their movement apart may be regulated.

The lower end of the tube 2| fits into the upper end of a split main tube 26 having a slot 21 extending from end to end thereof. Around the and centrally between the straps 28' is a third clamp strap 29. Each ofthese straps is provided with spaced ears 30 through which passes a bolt 3| provided preferably with a wing or thumb nut.

It will be observed that the ears of the straps 28 lie on the slotted sideof the tube 26 while the ears of the strap29 lie on the oppositejside of said tube. A pair of truss wires or rods 32 have their ends iconnected to the bolts of the clamps 28and' their middle portions extended over the bolt of strap 29. Thus the'ears on these straps 28 and 29 form, struts for the trussrods or wires 32. ,,These truss wiresare for the purpose of trussing the tube against flexure when-muse. r

Clamped inrthelowerend of the tube 26. is a lower tubular member 33 and to the lower part of the, member 33 jare'boltedor otherwise secured a pair of frame sides 34, which-extend below the tube 33 to form a. frame wherein isjournal1ed a Winding shaft 35. These frame sides come together as at 36 and are there held" by bolts 31. The shaft 35'is, provided with an operating crank 38. Fixed to the shaft 35 is an eye 39 to which is attached one end of a chain'40. The bar 25 isprovided with a series of spaced bolt holes 4|.

A lower pull bar 42 is similarly provided with bolt,

holes 43 and through selected holes in the two bars passes a bolt 44. ,Thus the effective length of ithetwo pull bars may be regulated by shifting a the, bolt from one hole to another. Obviously two: or more bolts'may be used to connect the bars 25 and 42. if desired. At the lower end' of the ,bar 42 is mounted a split link which may be caused to engage any link in the chain in accordancewith the adjustment of the group of tubular'members for length. .For the purpose of "affording access to the split, link 45 and chain 40 it is noted that the slot 21 is made of sufiicient width to allow the chain and link 45 to pass therethrough. This enables the effective length of the chain to be readily adjusted. On theshaft 35 is fixed a ratchet 46 which is engaged by a pawl 41' pressed by a spring 48 so that, when the chain is wound on the shaft it will be held in wound condition until the pawl be raised by the finger of the user. Also, sleeves 49 may be mounted on the shaft '35 to increase the diameter of the winding drum and thus cause the device to operate more quickly. This is advantageous in trimming twigs and small limbs when speed is desirable and so much power is not 'needed as is the case when larger limbs are to be cut.

Fixed to one of the toggle arms I9 is a hook member 50 which extends up beside onejaw as in Fig. 1a. When the toggle arms are pulled down by turning the crank 38 the upper end of this hook moves inwardly and downwardly so that it'will hook over a twig or branch between V the purpose specified.

the jaws A and pull the same down to proper position for cutting and there hold it.

One frame side 34 is extended as at5l and is then curved first in one direction asat 52 and then bent back to lie parallel to the portion 52 as at 53. This part 53 is preferably padded and,

in using the implement, rests against the users V It is obvious that minor changes maybe made.

in the form and construction of the invention 7 without departing from the material spirit there of. It is not, therefore, desiredto confine the invention to the exact'form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the SCOPC claimed.

Having thus described theinvention, what is claimed as new, is:

1. In a tree pruner, a supporting pole including aseries of telescopically adjustable sections,

a pair of cutting jaws at the upper end of the pole, operating meansfor said-jaws including pull meanshoused entirely within said pole, said pull means being providedwith a plurality of.

elements adjustable longitudinally of each other 7 and having coacting means forsecuring them in adjusted relation, one of said telescopic sections.

being longitudinally'slotted to permit access to the said coacting means, the element at the lower end of the 'pull means being a chain and the element above the chain forming a' hook for selectively engaging the links of the chain; a wind ing drum supported from thelower end;of said pole" and having one end of the chain attached thereto, and a crank for rotating said winding drum. 7 I

2. Ina tree pruner, a supporting pole including a series of telescopically adjustable sections,

.pole, operating means for said jaws including a pair of cutting jaws at the upperend of the pull means housed entirely withinsaid pole, said pull means being provided'with a plurality of said slotted section at theends and middle there,-

of, said clamping bands having each a pair of spaced ears and a clamping 'bolt passing therethrough, the ears on the end bands being on one side of the section and, the ears on the middle band being diametrically "opposite thereto, and truss wires fastened to the bolts of the end band, and extending over the bolt of the middle band;

3. In a tree pruner, a supporting pole including a series of telescopically adjustable sections, a pair of cutting jaws at the upper end of the pole, operating means for said jawsincluding pull means housed entirely within said pole, said pull means being: provided with a plurality; of

lower end of the pull means being a chain and the element above the chain forming a hook for selectively engaging the links of the chain, a winding drum supported from the lower end of said pole and having one end of the chain attached thereto, a. crank for rotating said winding drum, clamping bands extending around the said slotted section at the ends and middle thereof, said clamping bands having each a pair of spaced ears and a clamping bolt passing therethrough, the ears on the end bands being on one side of the section and the ears on the middle band being diametrically opposite thereto, and truss wires fastened to the bolts of the end band and extending over the bolt of the middle band.

LUKE S. STRIPLING. 

